ERIC Number: EJ941235
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Oct
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2445
EISSN: N/A
Associations between Family Communication Patterns, Sibling Closeness, and Adoptive Status
Samek, Diana R.; Rueter, Martha A.
Journal of Marriage and Family, v73 n5 p1015-1031 Oct 2011
Previous research has demonstrated the protective effect of family and sibling closeness on child adjustment, but fewer studies have investigated how closeness is promoted within families. Guided by Family Communication Patterns Theory, we tested the association between family communication and sibling emotional and behavioral closeness, and whether adoptive status moderated this relationship. Participating families included 616 adoptive and nonadoptive families with two adolescent children. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Sibling closeness was highest in families that emphasized both conversation and conformity and lowest in families that emphasized only conversation or neither conversation nor conformity. Emotional and behavioral closeness were differentially associated with adoption status, sibling age, and sibling gender. Few moderating effects of adoption status were found. Post hoc analyses showed moderating effects of sibling gender composition.
Descriptors: Sibling Relationship, Correlation, Social Behavior, Structural Equation Models, Family Relationship, Adoption, Adjustment (to Environment), Gender Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A